The Jesus Prayer

I have a much greater appreciation for song writers now. I’m seeing that at the worst I will have a draft of a song when I conclude. It seems like such an uphill journey at this time. The software and keyboard are working together just fine, they simply have problems with the aspiring SongWriter, or as when trying to learn to drive a standard shift automobile, we are encountering “operator problems”. But the journey is worth it all. At least I’m only inflicting pain upon the critters around me. It might be encouraging to hear a song-bird instead of a crow. Then again, the crow just might be in closer harmony with my sound presently. I’m no song crooner, but I’ll croon a song to the song crooner comes.

I’ve been reading an interesting book written by and about the spiritual journey of a Russian peasant, The Way of a Pilgrim. His travels are primarily an interior spiritual journey. The peasant seeks to learn how to pray without ceasing. Early on he is encouraged to pray “The Jesus Prayer.” Are you familiar with the Jesus Prayer? I had not encountered it before. At first I thought perhaps the Lord’s Prayer, but it is not. The Jesus Prayer is stated as, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.”

I’ve found it to be a profound prayer. I’ve even wondered if perhaps all these years we would be bettered identified as members of the sinner’s church instead of the Christian church. Imagine coming into a community and encountering the “First Sinner’s Church” or “Sinner Church of the Covenant.” I’ve noted that the word “Harvest” is a frequent word in new churches where I’ve travelled. Almost every community has a “Harvest” church. But I have yet to see a Sinner Church. Even the Apostle Paul recognized he was first among those least likely to become followers of Jesus.

If you put the Jesus Prayer on the forefront of your thinking, it does begin to influence your thinking. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. (I’m a sinner and I approve this message.)

Grace and peace with a song in my heart,
SongWriter